Protesters in the Gazi district of the European side of the city -- known as a staunchly anti-government stronghold -- came out to protest against military operations in the Kurdish-dominated southeast which activists say have left dozens of civilians dead.
Police arrived in armoured vehicles and fired tear gas canisters, while wounded protesters were taken away on stretchers, an AFP photographer said.
Pro-Kurdish media reports said that at least two were wounded and the police had used live ammunition. But this was not confirmed by official sources.